Fruit Hill to Akron is 238.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 71 and I 76, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within Ohio, moving from one part of the Midwest to another. With 95% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on interstates, making it a quick and efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this route if you need a no-fuss connection between these two Ohio locations, prioritizing speed and ease.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
119.1 miles from Fruit Hill, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 71
170.6 mi
3h 6m
I 76
18.4 mi
22m
Circle Freeway
16.4 mi
18m
Northeast Expressway
14.2 mi
16m
SR 350
4.3 mi
8m
Beechmont Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
Innerbelt
2.1 mi
2m
Middleboro Road
1.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 71
— 170.6 mi, about 3h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fruit Hill, OH and Akron, OH.
1
Start on SR 125
2.8 mi·5 min·Beechmont Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
2
Continue on SR 125
0.8 mi·1 min·Ohio Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 275 North: Columbus
4
Merge onto I 275
16 mi·18 min·Circle Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 49BToward I 71 North: ColumbusUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 71
14 mi·16 min·Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 32Toward SR 123: Morrow, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto SR 123
515 ft·12 sec·SR 123
9
Turn left onto SR 350
4.3 mi·8 min·SR 350
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto C-45
1.9 mi·4 min·Middleboro Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto SR 350 Truck; C-7
336 ft·10 sec·Wilmington Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
13
Merge onto I 71
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi·45 sec·I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, WheelingUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi·1 min·South Innerbelt
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 101AToward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
2.1 mi·2 min·Innerbelt
Exit 21CToward SR 59 East: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on SR 59
406 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
25
Turn right onto West Center Street
459 ft·19 sec·West Center Street
26
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Bowery Street
27
Arrive at destination
West Bowery Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, departing Fruit Hill in the morning allows ample time to reach Akron before evening. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 170.6-mile stretch on I 71, as services can be more spread out on interstates. Aim to fuel up before embarking on that longer segment if your gauge is low. The $37 fuel estimate is based on current averages, so adjust your budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 119.1 miles from Fruit Hill, OH, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 52 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.1 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fruit Hill, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fruit Hill, OH
This is one driving day of about 238.2 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Fruit Hill, OH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 71 for about 170.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 235.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.3 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32
Toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
8
112.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
214.2 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
214.4 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
8
235.7 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|SR 59 / Innerbelt
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21C
Toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.97 one way
$73.94 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$41.03
$82.06
premium
$4.91
$46.04
$92.07
diesel
$5.61
$52.59
$105.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.5
0
$25.01
$11.43
Efficient EV
59.6
0
$20.84
$9.53
EV Truck/SUV
95.3
1
$33.35
$15.24
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Fruit Hill, OH
Morning
in Fruit Hill on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 23 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 24 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Destination
Akron, OH
Morning
in Akron on Tuesday
Local time
9:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
SE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 23 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 21 at 2:52AM EDT until April 24 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Northern Indiana
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 57.5
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 238.2
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 49.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 95% of this 238.2-mile drive, meaning you'll encounter minimal surface streets until the very end. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 170.6 miles on I 71. Expect a steady cruising pace for the majority of the trip, with the transition to local roads likely occurring as you approach Akron. The Circle Freeway portion will likely involve more urban merging and exiting.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170.6 mi on I 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 238.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.8 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fruit Hill, OH and Akron, OH, road signs point toward Lebanon and Wheeling.
Akron is a city of almost 200,000 people (2019) in the Northeast Ohio region in Summit County. Akron is proud of its heritage as a center of industry, and now offers visitors a wide range of recreational and cultural attractions, food experiences, and shopping.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 238.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 170.6 miles on I 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Akron, OH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.8 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Akron, OH, but most travelers stay overnight.
